Village of Sharon Springs Budget Public Hearing

By Heather Skinner

SHARON SPRINGS — The Village of Sharon Springs Board gathered for their regularly scheduled meeting with Budget Public Hearing for about an hour at 6:00 PM on Thursday, April 17th.

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance, and then the preliminary 2025-2026 budget was discussed. Mayor Denise Kelly updated that both the property tax rate and water and sewer rates remain unchanged. While the water and sewer assessment rates had changed; sewer assessment rates went up from 62 cents per thousand dollars of assessment, to 73 cents per thousand dollars of assessment, and water assessment rate went down by one penny. It was explained that assessment charges are based on property assessment values and that they collect only what they need to pay outstanding debt. Also, as they are still finalizing projects, Kelly said, those numbers are still going up.

The usual three-minute privilege of the floor started with community member Chip Johnstone, who had asked specifically to be on the agenda to ask for an explanation of the fixed rate of $25 a quarter for those who own vacant lots.

Kelly said the fixed rate represents a small cost for the potential for infrastructure that exists that the village is obligated to take care of and repair as a community if it breaks. Everyone isn’t paying the fixed rate because those who have water service are paying considerably more for the product and service. Kelly added, “in many cases it is an asset for a property owner who has a service that a next owner would not have to install.”

Trustee Joyce Slater, who clarified she has a fixed rate, recommended the $1600 a year that is collected on the fixed rates be absorbed by the budget, which prompted discussion and agreement from community members in attendance. Kelly noted the compelling nature of the suggestion by a community member in attendance who said, “we’re subsidizing the water bill for the rest of the village, and, I would take that money, if you get rid of it, I would take that money and donate it to Sharon Springs food bank.” The public hearing was left open as they moved on to the agenda.

The Mayor’s Report began with the list of positions up for election in November which includes mayor for a 4-year term, two Trustee 4-year terms, and one Trustee 2-year term to fill out the remainder of a 4-year term. Kelly said the period for getting signatures for a petition is now open and closes sometime in May. Anyone interested can reach out to Clerk and Treasurer, Arianna Parsons, who has the paperwork, or to the County Board of Elections.

A request from the new owners of the American Hotel and the organization helping them apply for an on-premises liquor license to serve liquor, wine, beer, and cider in a hotel establishment was passed, which granted them a waiver for the 30-day notification.

The Mayor Report also included updates about the SEEC Small Project Fund, the satisfactory rating from their annual Waste Water Treatment Plant inspection, the Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank Adler Project has replaced the wood sheeting and added tarps on parts of the roof that had been rotting to prevent further deterioration while the building is up for sale again, Anjo Construction will be back to work on streets starting Monday, April 21, and the NY Forward grant received for the park which thus far hasn’t gotten a contract will be forthcoming.

During the Trustee Report, Slater announced that from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 26th, they will be having their third annual tree giveaway in honor of Arbor Day! In the parking lot of The Sharon Community Building, they will be giving away a Silky Dogwood, which is a shrub that can grow up to 8 feet.

Parsons delivered the Clerk/Treasurer Report. The Pro-Housing Recertification is due by the end of this month and will be submitted next week, Charter Communications want their customers notified that SHOP HQ ceased programming on or around April 1st, 2025 without any notice to Spectrum & the channel’s message updates that viewers can watch it live online at shophq.com, and the water and sewer billing system changed its name and software from gWorks. Annual tax map orders will be sent out in PDF form and one paper set for the office can be requested, but any additional paper sets for code zoning or planning board will come with a $25 per set fee.

A resolution to lower flat/fixed rate was reached as a compromise from their last meeting. The passed motion (with only one trustee who abstained) was read aloud as, “the village of Sharon Springs Board of Trustees has reviewed the current existing flat, also known as fixed rate and hereby sets the new flat fixed rate at $20 per quarter. This change amends local law one of 2014 filed with the department of state on June 24th, 2014, which established the original fixed quarterly rate for water service charges, including those for additional curb stop valves. It shall take effect immediately for the next billing quarter and shall remain in effect unless otherwise amended by resolution or local law.”

Before the sound of scribbling filled the silence while bills were signed off on, minutes edits from 3/20/2025 were approved. All motions received 2nds and in-favor ayes; Sewer Capital $4,021.00, General Fund $12,629.75, Water Fund $13,161.66, Sewer Fund $3,204.53, and Trust & Agency $1,004.97.

It was noted that copies of tax and assessment rates are available in the office for anyone who needs one. If you would like to watch this budget public hearing for yourself, and hear more discussions from the meeting like The Public Works Superintendent Report about the MacFadden Inc Auction delivered by Public Works Super, Vladimir Jones, and the Code Enforcement Officer Report, a representative from SCHOPEG recorded this meeting in its entirety. On Demand videos can be found on their website, which is www.schopeg.com, by clicking the “Videos” tab in VIDEOS ON DEMAND.

Sharon Springs Village Board Meetings take place every third Thursday of the month at 6:00 PM. The Sharon Community Building is connected to the Sharon Springs Free Library and is located at 129 Main Street, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. For more information you can call the Village Office at (518) 284-2625.